New York megachurch pastor A.R. Bernard announced Friday he had resigned from President Donald Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board, citing a "conflict in values," The Hill reported.
"In a social and political climate such as ours, it often takes a gathering of unlikely individuals to shape the future of our nation on issues of faith and inner city initiatives," Bernard posted in a statement on Twitter. "I was willing to be one of those individuals, and that is why I agreed to serve on the President's Evangelical Advisory Board."
"However, it became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration," he continued.
Bernard's resignation reflects the sentiments of other community and business leaders who are distancing themselves from the president. Trump disbanded the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative and the Strategic and Policy Forum this week after many members began resigning from the councils citing his response to last weekend's protests in Charlottesville, Va. On Thursday, the White House also announced it would not create a council of outside advisers on infrastructure as planned.
Bernard explained in his statement that he had made the decision "several months ago," but submitted his resignation on Tuesday.
The pastor signed onto a letter on Monday from the Commission of Religious Leaders denouncing hate groups following the Charlottesville violence.
"We will not be silent while neo-Nazis, white supremacists, or any individuals or groups, seek to divide us from one another," the letter read.
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